Cutter chain



Patented June 13, 1944I CUTTER CHAIN f John A. Hayward, Claremont, N. H.; assigner to Sullivan Machinery Company, a

Massachusetts corporation of A' .Application November 5, 1942, semi Nogfieisss 7 claims. (c1. 26a- 33) Thisinvention relates `to cutter chains, and more particularly: has reference to improvements in a cutter bit holderfor a mining machine cutter chain;

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutter chain. Another object isto provide a novel means for holding a-cutter bit in cutting position on a chain block. A further object is to .provide a novel cutter bit holder embodyingv separable holder parts formed with threads lengageable with a threaded socket in the chain-block.` A still further object is to provide a novel cutter bitholder having means, whereby the same may be positively-adjusted with respect to the chain block to vary the gauge of the cutter bit with resp'ectto the block. Yet another object Vis to provide Yanin iproved cutter bit holder having an., adjustable vinterlocking connection with the -walls `ofthe chain block socket. Other and further .objectsland Atheir resultant advantages will be@apparentl after the invention becomes better understood from an examination of thespecication and; clairns in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which one application of the invention. is illustrated. l

Fig, 1 is a side elevational view of a section of a cutter chain. illustrating the improved cutter b it holding means. .l l i Fig. 2 is' a. cross sectional view taken substantially on line2-Z of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially Ionline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of Fig. 3, showing the cutter bit holder in side elevation-1..A *5 l.

Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the rear holder part..v Y

Fig.` -6 isa-"perspective view of the front holder part. l

Fig. 71 is adetail sectional viewtaken substantially'on line 1.-] ofbFig. 3 4- In this illustrativeembodiment of the invention ,there isfshown a cutter chain generally designated I` adapted to travel about` the margin of a conventional"mining machine cutter bar. The cutter chain ineludesa chain block 2 pivotally connected to strap 'links `3, and the latter have lateral gibs :ALadapted toengage the usual cutter-` longitudinally ofthe block at the forwardtfside of the block socket is a threaded opening for receiving a conventional set screw 9. '".lheixnf proved bit holding means is generallydesignated I ll and includes a rear holder part II and afront holder part I2, and these holder parts are externally threaded at I3 and I4 respectivelyfor engagement with the threaded walls of the block socket. The front and rearholder `parts have outer enlarged portions-I5 and I6 whiclr` co, operate to provide a generally circulan head adapted to engage within a circular recess .I'I. at the outer end of the block socketwhen the-.holder parts are in theirinnermost position. j'lfhefrear holder part has a forwardly facing socket I8 pro vided with-an arcuate rear Wall I 9, andthsv socket is shaped to receive a cutter bit 20of generally crescent.shape in side elevation. The Cutter bitf'has `a plane front face 2| which terminates in cutting points22 at the opposite ends 0f the bits. The cutter bit seats in the socket I8 offthe rear holder part, and the plane :front` faceibitlle bit isengagedby a rearwardly facing abutment surface 23 on the front holder part. The ,set screw 9 is adjustable into engagementwiththe front holder part inthe manner show hin Fig-.13 for clamping the cutter bit firmly in cutting positionon the chain block; The front -holder part has a planeA surface of substantial length. at 2li,A parallel 'to theaxis of A the'holder as a'whle, and` the lines `formed by the intersection l of. ,a plane perpendicular to the holder axiswiththe surfaces 23 and 24l are parallel to Veachother-,j in the holder shown, so that Vwhen the set screw S engages thesurface 24 normally. the bit ,will be properly faced. .i I Y When the set screw 9 `is 1oosened,'the cutter bit holder'parts II andzl2 may be concurrently rotated, relative to the` chain block to screwA the same outwardly within the `chain blocksocket, thereby to enable an adjustment in the gauge of the cutter bit. The changesin gauge'will be determined ,by the' lead of the screw threads `I3, "I 4.` As it is designed to hav,e the set screw squarely engagel the Sulfic.e` 243 .it .Will be i el/ident, .that one turn lof Athe holderfis necessary between sati s` factory engagements oflthefserevvsV andfproper position of'the bit. `^1nanyofits adjusted tions, the holderinay be clamped firmly in posi# tion by the set screw. When one point of the cutter bit becomes dull, the set screw may be `loosened and the holder parts unscrewed from the block socket and removed from the block. T he holder parts may then be separated to enable removal of the cutter blt. The cutter bit may then be turned end for end with respect to the holder socket, and the holder parts again placed together and screwed into proper position in the block socket. Thereafter the holder may be rmly clamped in position by the set screw. If it is desired to change the projection or gauge of the bit with respect to the block, the holder will be screwed ito different distance into the threadedv socket. j Y l As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved cutter bit holder is provided which may be positively and to known distances adjusted inwardly and outwardly with respect to the chain block, thereby to enablea variation in the gauge of the cutter bit with respect to the block. It will be evident that by the provision of the adjustable threaded connectionbetween the holder parts and the Wallsof'the block socket,

the possibility of inadvertent release of the bit and holder from the block is substantially re.- duced. The holder parts are not only relatively simple ar'idrugged,V but 'alsofre'latively inexpensive in design. Other uses' and advantages of the invention will be in the art." v `While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention mayassume in practice, it willbe understood that this form ofthe same is shown for purposes of illustraticri,-\andthatthe invention may be modified and embodied in Vlvarious other forms without departing from its spirit or thescope of the appended claims. `WhatfI claim as newand desirey to secure by Y1.11P "a cutterchain, a Vchain block having a circular socket 'provided with threaded walls, and bitholding'means receivable in said socket land including cooperating separable holder parts for supporting acu'tter'bit in cutting position on saidblock` and separable to permit release of the cutter bit therefrom', said holder parts each having a threaded portion engageable with the socket threads and said parts being rotatable concurrently in said socketv to eiect adjustment Vof said holding means axially in said socket to vary thel `gauge of the cutter bit 'with respect to the chain block. i

2. Inl a cutter chain, a chain block having a circular "threaded socket, i 'and bit holding means receivablein said socket and including cooperating separable holder parts adapted detachably to secure a cutter bit in cutting position onsald block, s aid holder parts each havinga threaded portion'engaging the socket threads,

said parts being separable to permit release of the cutterbit therefrom, and said parts being concurrently rotatable in said socket relative to said block to screw said holdingmeans axially into 'i nd out of said'block socket to varyr the gauge of the cutter bit With respect to theblock.

3. .A bitl holder having peripheral threads for predetermining its distance'of reception in a chain block socket and rotatable in`V such a socket to vary its position axially. therein, said holder comprising cooperating separable parts each having a portion of said threads rformed*,thereon, said A parts being separable to permit release of a cutter clearly apparent -to those skilled CII bit therefrom, and one of said parts having a socket for the reception of a cutter bit in a predetermined position therein, and one of said parts having means formed thereon for cooperation with securing means in various positions of axial adjustment of said holder for predeterminedly positioning a cutter bit through fixing the position of said holder. i n

4. In combination, E:ai threaded bit holder, a block having a threaded socket for receiving said holder and adjustable upon rotation relative to the block axially in said socket,fsaid holder including cooperating separable parts each having a threaded portion engageable with the socket threads, said partsbeing separable to permit release of a cutter bit therefrom, and one of said parts having a recess for securing a cutter bit in a predetermined position therein,` and said holder furtherhaving a surface on the exterior thereof whose horizontal elements bear a predetermined angular relation to the horizontal elements in the surface of a cutteribit'received in said-'predetermined position in said holder recess, and means arranged to cooperate with said holder surface in the different adjusted positionsfof the holder to i'lx the holder in "cutter fsup'porting'position 'on said block. I

5. In a cutter chain, a chain' block havingy a socket, rotatablefb'it 'holding means receivablein said socket-and including cooperating separable bit holdingelements adapted to support and hold a cutter rbit in cuttiri'gposition on said block, said holding elements Vbeir'ig-separable vto permit 'release ofthe cutter bit therefrom, and lmeans operative upon concurrent rotation of said holding elementsof said holdingmeans'relative to said block uponv an axis extending longitudinally-'of the block socket for axially adjusting said holding means Withinfsaids'ocket" into diierent bit supporting and holding positions whereby the desiredgauge ofthe bitwithrespect to said block may be obtained. 'j "l 6. In a cutter chainfaAV chain block having'a socket provided with threaded-Wallsfand rotatable bit holding means 'including cooperating separable bit holding elements' receivable in said socket and adapted Atirsuppo'rtA a"`cutter' bit 'in cutting position onsaidfb'lockg'said holding elements being separable to permitrelease of :the cutter bit-therefrom, said bit holding` means hav.- ing threaded portions -inthreaded engagement with the-socket -walls and' adjustable upon rotation thereof axially within said socket whereby the desired'projectionof the bit with respectto said block may be'obtairied;

7. In a cutter chain, a chain block having a threaded socket,-andj cooperating separable bit holding elements adapted `to support and hold a cutter bit in cutting' position on said block; said holding elements being separable to permit release of the cutter 'bit therefrom, said holding ele-- ments having threaded-portions in threaded engagement with said socket wallsy and rotatable' to.- gether to adjust'axially said holding elements into different' predetermined "positions, within's'aid socket wherebyjthe'ldesiredgauge ofthe'bit with respect tri-'said moc-k maybefobtained. 

